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Camping World Truck Series Playoff Watch 2021: How the field looks heading to regular-season finale
By Sean Montgomery | Monday, August 2, 2021
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Only two weeks remain until the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular-season finale at Watkins Glen International (Aug. 7). The series makes its highly-anticipated return to the New York road course with a regular-season champion already crowned and a handful of drivers locked in on either wins or points. But what about the others?
Let's take a look at how the 10-driver playoff field currently stacks up.
A few reminders:
-- 10 eligible drivers make the playoffs, with cutoffs after two three-race blocks (down to eight and then four), ending with the championship race at Phoenix Raceway.
-- Points are reset for playoff drivers, and playoff points accumulated during the regular season are added.
-- Drivers earn five playoff points for each of their regular-season wins.
-- Drivers earn one playoff point for each stage win.
-- The top 10 finishers in the regular-season standings earn playoff points on a sliding scale, starting with 15 points for the Regular Season Champion and ending on one point for the 10th-place finisher.
-- NOTE: Though currently eighth in the points standings, Grant Enfinger is ineligible for the playoffs as he was not entered into every race and did not receive a waiver.
Let's take a look at how the 10-driver playoff field currently stacks up.
A few reminders:
-- 10 eligible drivers make the playoffs, with cutoffs after two three-race blocks (down to eight and then four), ending with the championship race at Phoenix Raceway.
-- Points are reset for playoff drivers, and playoff points accumulated during the regular season are added.
-- Drivers earn five playoff points for each of their regular-season wins.
-- Drivers earn one playoff point for each stage win.
-- The top 10 finishers in the regular-season standings earn playoff points on a sliding scale, starting with 15 points for the Regular Season Champion and ending on one point for the 10th-place finisher.
-- NOTE: Though currently eighth in the points standings, Grant Enfinger is ineligible for the playoffs as he was not entered into every race and did not receive a waiver.
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FIRST FIVE OUT
The reality for these drivers is that they are each likely in a must-win situation (as is everyone below them in the standings). Of these drivers, Johnny Sauter far and away has the best resume with 24 series wins and Tyler Ankrum won in 2019. But at a place the series hasn't raced in over two decades, anything is bound to happen -- even a "walk-off" win by a bubble driver.
Derek Kraus, pictured - 311 points (40 below the cutline)
Tyler Ankrum - 307 points (44 below the cutline)
Johnny Sauter - 300 points (50 below the cutline)
Austin Wayne Self - 280 points (71 below the cutline)
Ryan Truex - 252 points (99 below the cutline)
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10. Stewart Friesen - 2,001 points
Qualified by: Points
Stage wins: 0
Breakdown: The deal for Friesen is simple. He pretty much needs to remain ahead of Chandler Smith in the regular-season standings to secure his playoff spot regardless of who wins at Watkins Glen. The three finishes of 27th or worse in the last four races haven't helped his cause. He also has no top 10s at either of the road courses this season. Every time a first-time winner leads at "The Glen" in two weeks, the point battle between Friesen and Smith becomes the matchup to watch.
Qualified by: Points
Stage wins: 0
Breakdown: The deal for Friesen is simple. He pretty much needs to remain ahead of Chandler Smith in the regular-season standings to secure his playoff spot regardless of who wins at Watkins Glen. The three finishes of 27th or worse in the last four races haven't helped his cause. He also has no top 10s at either of the road courses this season. Every time a first-time winner leads at "The Glen" in two weeks, the point battle between Friesen and Smith becomes the matchup to watch.
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9. Chandler Smith - 2,001
Qualified by: Points
Stage wins: 1
Breakdown: Like Friesen, a first-time 2021 winner at Watkins Glen could spell trouble for Smith and the No. 18 team. Smith currently sits 40 points up on the cutline and should be in solid shape with a repeat winner. Smith has reeled off two of his three top fives this season in the last four weeks and has been hit or miss at road courses this year, finishing 12th Daytona Road Course and 33rd at Circuit of the Americas. Either way it shakes, both Friesen and Smith will likely be tight roping the cutline in two weeks.
Qualified by: Points
Stage wins: 1
Breakdown: Like Friesen, a first-time 2021 winner at Watkins Glen could spell trouble for Smith and the No. 18 team. Smith currently sits 40 points up on the cutline and should be in solid shape with a repeat winner. Smith has reeled off two of his three top fives this season in the last four weeks and has been hit or miss at road courses this year, finishing 12th Daytona Road Course and 33rd at Circuit of the Americas. Either way it shakes, both Friesen and Smith will likely be tight roping the cutline in two weeks.
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8. Carson Hocevar - 2,002 points
Qualified by: Points
Stage wins: 0
Breakdown: Rookie season in the Truck Series - check. First time in the playoffs - maybe. Hocevar enters Watkins Glen with a comfortable 61-point cushion above the cutline but will need to avoid an unlikely, disastrous day. Fortunately, Hocevar has been respectable at road courses with a 10.5 average finish in two races this season. He controls his playoff destiny -- something others near the cutline don't necessarily have the luxury of. If there's a repeat winner, he locks into the field automatically.
Qualified by: Points
Stage wins: 0
Breakdown: Rookie season in the Truck Series - check. First time in the playoffs - maybe. Hocevar enters Watkins Glen with a comfortable 61-point cushion above the cutline but will need to avoid an unlikely, disastrous day. Fortunately, Hocevar has been respectable at road courses with a 10.5 average finish in two races this season. He controls his playoff destiny -- something others near the cutline don't necessarily have the luxury of. If there's a repeat winner, he locks into the field automatically.
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7. Matt Crafton - 2,005 points
Qualified by: Points (clinched)
Stage wins: 0
Breakdown: A 21-year veteran of the series, Crafton is no stranger to the pressure of competing for a Camping World Truck Series championship. He won back-to-back titles in 2013-14 and then won again in 2019. Crafton is locked in for another run at a championship. After a midseason slump, he has reeled off three consecutive sixth-place finishes.
Qualified by: Points (clinched)
Stage wins: 0
Breakdown: A 21-year veteran of the series, Crafton is no stranger to the pressure of competing for a Camping World Truck Series championship. He won back-to-back titles in 2013-14 and then won again in 2019. Crafton is locked in for another run at a championship. After a midseason slump, he has reeled off three consecutive sixth-place finishes.
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6. Zane Smith - 2,009 points
Qualified by: Points (clinched)
Stage wins: 3
Breakdown: Smith is tied for runner-up in the series with his three stage wins, only trailing John Hunter Nemechek. But unlike Nemechek, the stage wins haven't turned into checkered flags. Nonetheless, Smith is locked into the postseason despite down numbers compared to a season ago. He does have five top 10s in the last six races.
Qualified by: Points (clinched)
Stage wins: 3
Breakdown: Smith is tied for runner-up in the series with his three stage wins, only trailing John Hunter Nemechek. But unlike Nemechek, the stage wins haven't turned into checkered flags. Nonetheless, Smith is locked into the postseason despite down numbers compared to a season ago. He does have five top 10s in the last six races.
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5. Sheldon Creed - 2,010 points
Qualified by: Win (Darlington Raceway)
Stage wins: 1
Breakdown: Less than one year removed from a career-best mark of five wins and a first Camping World Truck Series championship, Creed likely finds himself as one of the underdogs heading into the playoffs. He has cooled off a bit since his electric sophomore season in the No. 2 Chevy, with only six top 10s compared to 13 a year ago. He is the defending winner at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway and the most recent victor at Darlington, the first two playoff races.
Qualified by: Win (Darlington Raceway)
Stage wins: 1
Breakdown: Less than one year removed from a career-best mark of five wins and a first Camping World Truck Series championship, Creed likely finds himself as one of the underdogs heading into the playoffs. He has cooled off a bit since his electric sophomore season in the No. 2 Chevy, with only six top 10s compared to 13 a year ago. He is the defending winner at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway and the most recent victor at Darlington, the first two playoff races.
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4. Austin Hill - 2,013 points
Qualified by: Win (Knoxville Raceway)
Stage wins: 0
Breakdown: Hill solidified his playoff status with a gritty win at Knoxville, giving him a chance at redemption after falling short in last year's Championship 4 finale. It's somewhat surprising it took him this long to get to Victory Lane, but that could mean he is peaking at the right time. He has finished outside the top 10 just three times the entire season. On the other hand, he has only led 25 laps compared to 348 a year ago. With the pressure now off to perform at an unfamiliar road course, Hill and company can gear up for another postseason push.
Qualified by: Win (Knoxville Raceway)
Stage wins: 0
Breakdown: Hill solidified his playoff status with a gritty win at Knoxville, giving him a chance at redemption after falling short in last year's Championship 4 finale. It's somewhat surprising it took him this long to get to Victory Lane, but that could mean he is peaking at the right time. He has finished outside the top 10 just three times the entire season. On the other hand, he has only led 25 laps compared to 348 a year ago. With the pressure now off to perform at an unfamiliar road course, Hill and company can gear up for another postseason push.
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3. Todd Gilliland - 2,014 points
Qualified by: Win (COTA)
Stage wins: 2
Breakdown: Since Gilliland won at COTA, he hasn't finished outside of the top seven. That was six races ago. His 8.7 average finish in 2021 only trails the two drivers ahead of him in the projected playoff standings. Though he only has one win, he has been one of the most steady drivers in the series this season. That should benefit him over the course of a long playoff run. Look for him to close the gap to the leaders with another strong road-course showing at Watkins Glen.
Qualified by: Win (COTA)
Stage wins: 2
Breakdown: Since Gilliland won at COTA, he hasn't finished outside of the top seven. That was six races ago. His 8.7 average finish in 2021 only trails the two drivers ahead of him in the projected playoff standings. Though he only has one win, he has been one of the most steady drivers in the series this season. That should benefit him over the course of a long playoff run. Look for him to close the gap to the leaders with another strong road-course showing at Watkins Glen.
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2. Ben Rhodes - 2,021 points
Qualified by: Two Wins (Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Road Course)
Stage wins: 1
Breakdown: Since back-to-back wins at Daytona to start the season, Rhodes has cooled off significantly. Still, his early wins and consistency have him in a prime position to ramp up his performance heading into the postseason. A trip to Watkins Glen could kickstart a title run for the No. 99 team. He won at the Daytona Road Course earlier this year and finished 10th at COTA.
Qualified by: Two Wins (Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Road Course)
Stage wins: 1
Breakdown: Since back-to-back wins at Daytona to start the season, Rhodes has cooled off significantly. Still, his early wins and consistency have him in a prime position to ramp up his performance heading into the postseason. A trip to Watkins Glen could kickstart a title run for the No. 99 team. He won at the Daytona Road Course earlier this year and finished 10th at COTA.
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1. John Hunter Nemechek - 2,049 points
Qualified by: Regular-season champion/five wins (Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Richmond Raceway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway)
Stage wins: 9
Breakdown: The 24-year-old is having a career year behind the wheel of the No. 4 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He has already locked up the regular-season title and set a career high with five wins this season, and his eight top fives and 11 top 10s matched his career-best marks in just 14 races. Heading into the playoffs, Nemechek is unquestionably the driver to beat each time out, and it would be surprising not to see him contend in the Championship 4 finale at Phoenix.
Qualified by: Regular-season champion/five wins (Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Richmond Raceway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway)
Stage wins: 9
Breakdown: The 24-year-old is having a career year behind the wheel of the No. 4 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He has already locked up the regular-season title and set a career high with five wins this season, and his eight top fives and 11 top 10s matched his career-best marks in just 14 races. Heading into the playoffs, Nemechek is unquestionably the driver to beat each time out, and it would be surprising not to see him contend in the Championship 4 finale at Phoenix.
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